Seed planter



Jan. 19, 193 7. G. M. KRIEGBAUM SEED PLANTER Filed Dec. 29, 1934 Patente Jan. 19, 1937 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEED PLANTEB.

George M. Kriegbaum, Bichmond, Ind. assignor tu International Harvester Company, a. corporaficn f New Jersey This invention relates t0 seed dispensing mechanism for planters and particularly to the type o-f machine in which seeds are discharged singly from a seed. plate drive-n from the carrying wheels of the planter through suitable intermdiate mechanism.

The object of my invention is to improve simplify, ancl make more effective the operation of selecting, separating, and delivering a, predetermined number of kernels to the planting devices of a planten which kerne1s should be accumulated sing1y and deposited collectively in hills when the p1anter is being operaed by checkrow mechanism, or which may be both accumu- 1ated anal deposited singly when drilling.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a valve or gate located in the hopper bottom adjacent the seed plate a1; the o-pening opposite the cut-ofi".

A further object of the invention is 110 provide a, pivoted gate of such design as to maintain by reason o-f its own weight and. the weight of seed over it, contact with the -seed plate, thereby preventing seeds from rolling under the cut-off and knock-out pawl case at thn's poini; thereby interfering with the operation 0f the knack-01117 pawl.

A further object 0f the invention is to a1low any surplus seeds, which may have passed. the cut-off and failed cf discharge througn I;he ce11 in the seed plate, to readily pass into the hopper.

A further object is to prevent seeds, such as peas, for instance, from being split, especially in side hill planting as the hoppers are tilted to one side allowing the seeds 110 roll under the cut-ofi and knock-out pawl case.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a construction for seeding devices which while particularly applicable for use in connection with an edge-drop seeding plate may be also us'ed in cormection with fiat seed. plates Which employ a series of round 0penings removed from the edge o-f the plate.

Other objects and aclvantages Will appear in the following description of a. preferred. embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying dra.wing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom of the seed hopper showing the novel cut-off; and,

Figule 2 is a, vertical view of the seed. hopper part1y in section along lim 2-2 01: Figure 1, showing the cut-off.

In the construction illustrated, the seed hopper II] is secured to the pea hopper bottom II. The pea hopper bottom I I is formed. with distribating grooves I2 which are formed by the upstanding ridges I5. The hopper bottom II is also formed with a su1face in the nature of a cone so as 120 aid the seed in being distributed eo the seed p1ate HI, as best shown in Figure 2.

An inner knock-out pawl or member I5 forming knock-out means is pivoted to= the hopper bottom II by means of the pin I 6 integral with the pawl and. pivoted in grooves in the hopper bottom, not shown. The 1ower end of the paw1 I5 is so formed to permit the seed. plate I4 to travel in the direction 01 the arrow marked on the seed plate I4, but not in the reverse direction. The end of the pawl also provides a, knockout 130 aicI in discharging the seed through the seed plate, as shown. A compression spring II is attached to= the pawl I5, as shown, and held in place by the spring recess I8 in the paw1 cap I9, which is secured. 120 the pea hopper bottom II by the holt and nut 20.

Attached. 170 the paw1 cap- I9 is a bracket 2I co which the brush cut-off 22 is adjustably attached by means of the holt 23 through the cut-ofi and the slot 24 in the bracket. The brush cut-off is used to a11ow only the required number cf seeds which have found their way into seed cells 25 in the seed plate HI, 1:0 enter the paw1 knock-out chamber 26 where the seeds are discharged t0 the seed boot, not shown. A1- though a. brush cut-off 22 has been disclosed, it is to be understood. that this may take any other form, such as a metal cut-off.

AI; the discharge end of the pawl knock-out; chamber 26, a. hinged. cut-off 21 is pivoted to the hopper bottom II, as best shown in Figure 1. The cut-off 21 is preferably formed of sheet metal having at its upper end outwardly extend- Ing lugs 28, which act as pintles and are pivoted in recesses 29 formed in the hopper bottom. The lower end of the gate or cut-off 21 is shaped with an upwardly curved end to contact the seed p1ate I4. The cut-off is held in place by the force of gravity and the weight of the superimposedyseed. The cut-off is limited in its upward moveme'nt by the stop 30 integral with the hopper bottom II. The cut-ofi prevents excess seed.

from collecting in the knock-out chamber and ing disk 3I is driven from a driving shaft 34 operatzed by mechanisrn driven from the planter wheels, not shown, because it is unnecessary for the understanding of the invention. A filler ring 35 is placed betzween the seed drop plate I4 ancl tzhe hopper botztom platze 36. The filler ring 35 has a seed drop opening 31 tzhrough which tzhe seeds drop anal this seed drop opening 31 is aligned With a similar seed drop opening 38 in the hopper bottom plate. The openings 31 and. 38 are kept in alignment by the lugs 39 on the filler ring 35. The hopper botztzom plate 36 is securely fastenecl 130 the hopper botztom H by clamps pivoted to tzhe ears M! on the hpper bottom II.

The operation of the invention, which has been described as attzaohed to a pea hopper, is very simple. Seed is placed in tzhe hopper, and tzhe plantzer 1:0 which tzhe hopper is attached is putz into gear, which in turn operates the hopper mechanism thro-ugh tzhe shaft 34, which in turn drives the driving disk 3l, which is comnected 120 the seed plate M. The seed platze I4 revolves in tzhe direction of the arrow, and the seed. cells 25 are filled witzh seed. Excess seed is normally preventecl from entering tzhe knock-out chamber 26 by means cf the brush cut-oif 22. As the seed passes the openings 31 ancl 38, and comes underneath tzhe knock-outz pawl I5, the

1 pawl aids in tzhe discharge of tzhe seed. The

hinged. cutz-off 21 allows any excess seed tzo pass out of tzhe knock-outz chamber and atz the same time preventzs any seed from entering at tzhis' end because 01 the gravity operatzed cutz-oil.

In all, a very simple mechanism has been inventzed whereby the seed is p-revented from 010gging the knock-out chamber, and also preventzed from being splitz. A furtzher advantage is gained in thatz, in operating on side hills, the knock-outz chamber is prevented from becoming clogged.

Itz Will be evident from 1zhe above disclosure that a simple mechanism has been provided which Will maintain a proper relation betzween the driving mechanism, tzhe seed. platze and tzhe knock-outz pawl, the knock-outz chamber witzh a brush or metzal cutz-ofi a1; the entzrance, and the cut-off atz the discharge end cf the knock-outz chamber.

The constructzion herein described exemplifies tzhe preferred form of tzhe inventzion, and itz will be obvious tzo those skilled in tzhe art thatz various modificatzions may be made Within the scope of tzhe following claims.

Whatz is claimed is:

1. In a seed planten a hopper, a seed platze revolubly supported in said hopper, said platze having a series of seed cells, a stationary member located. above the plate having a knock-outz charmber therein normally closed atz both ends and a cutz-ofi mountzed thereon in aclvance of said knockoutz chamber permitztzing tzhe passage 0f a predetermined amountz of seed, a knock-outz member in Ehe aforesaid chamber, and a pivoted gatze atz the rear of said knock-outz chamber extending in the directzion of motzion of said seed platze by which seeds are prevented from entering said knock-outz chamber butz which permits tzhe passage of excess seed tzheretzhrough.

2. In a seed plantzer, a hopper, a seed plate revolubly supported. in said hopper, said platze 1/0 having a series of seed cells, a stationary member locatzed. above 1zhe plate having a. knock-out chamber normally closed a1; botzh ends, and a knock-out member in tzhe aforesaid chamber and a movable closure atz the rear of said knock-outz chamber extending in the direction of motzion of said. seed platze by which seecls are preventzed frorn entering said. knock-outz chamber 2L11C1 normally held in contzact with saicl seed platze by the weightz of tzhe seeds in the hopper contactzing said movable closure.

3. In a seed planten a hopper, a seed platte revolubly supportzed in saicl hopper, said platze having a series of seed cells, a stationary member locatzed above tzhe plate having a knock-outz chamber normally closed. atz both ends, knockout means in tzhe aforesaid chamber, and gravitzy operated means a1; the rear of said knock-out chamber extending in tzhe directzion of motion of said seed platze by which seeds are prevented from entering saicl knock-out chamber, but Which permitzs the passage theretzhrough of extraneous seeds trapped in said lmock-out chamber 4. In a seed planter, a hopper, a seed platte revolubly supported in said hopper, s'aid platze having a series of seed cells, a stationary membei locatzed above the platze having a knock-out chamber thegein normally closed at both ends anda cutz-oif mounted thereon, a spring pressed knock-out in said. chamber and a movable elosure at the rear of said knock-out chamber pivoting in ehe direction of motion of said seed plate by which excess seed passing said cut-oif Ente tzhe knock-out chamber may pass out again intzo the hopper.

5. In a seed planter, a hopper, a seed plate revolubly supporbed in said hopper, said plate having a series of seed cells, a stationary mernbei locatecl above the platze having a knock-out chamber therein normally closed a1; both ends, a knock-out member in tzhe aforesaid chamber, cutz-off means at the rear of said knock-outz ehamber pivoting in the direction of motion of said seed platze, and stop means limitzing the Vertical movementz 0 f said cutz-off means.

6. In a seed plantzer, a hopper, a seed plate revolubly supported in said hopper, said platze having a series of seed cells, a statzi0nary member locatzed above tzhe platze having a knock-out chamber tzherein normally closed at both ends, a knock-out member in tzhe aforesaid chamber, means at the rear of saicl knock-out chamber pivoting in the direction cf motion of said. seed plate by which seeds are prevented from ente1ing said knock-out chamber, said means pivoted to said stationary member and having means centactzing said seed plate.

'7. In a seed planter, a hopper, a seed platze revolubly supported in said hopper, a stationary member located above bhe platte having a knacko-ut charnber therein, a knock-down member in the aforesaid chamber, anal a movable closure at the rear of said knock-outz chamber pivoting in the direction of motion of said seed. platze by which seecls are prevented from entering said lmock-out chamber, said movable closure pivotect izo said stationary member ancl having the end of said closure contactzing the aforesaid seed platze parallel to ehe plane of the seed plate.

GEORGE M. KRIEGBAUM. 

